WORDS: ASHLIE HUGHES
PUBLISHED: MAY 14, 2024
Sometimes the convenience of a one-stop grocery haul for dinner and a bottle of wine can be too hard to pass up. Although they lack the selection and expert guidance of a traditional wine store, if you’re fortunate enough to live in a state where supermarkets carry booze, you can save yourself time (and usually a few dollars) by taking advantage of their selections. However, under the glare of harsh lighting and with the high stakes of a satisfying dinner on the line, it’s easy to crack under the pressure.
Thankfully, as our wine experts below can attest, there are plenty of underrated supermarket wines that won’t let you or your meal down. From a Spanish Rioja and a lively Alsatian blend to a Vinho Verde and several dependable sparkling bottles, you’ll find a handy lineup for the next time you end up wine shopping in a grocery store below.
The most underrated supermarket wines, according to sommeliers::
• Hugel Gentil Alsace Blend
• Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé
• Trimbach Riesling
“To me, the most underrated supermarket wine is Hugel Gentil. It’s an Alsatian white blend that seems to be widely available and is oft overlooked. I suspect that’s because of the classic hock-shaped bottle (tall and skinny) combined with the blend of Pinot Gris, Riesling, Muscat, Gewürztraminer, and Sylvaner that convinces people that it’ll be a sweet wine. It’s not! It’s dry. It’s a truly versatile white wine that has big fruit and balanced acidity with pronounced minerality. It’s great with anything spicy or as an aperitif. Fantastic with seafood, pork, or roasted vegetables; salt and fat are its friends.” —Greg Cantu, wine director, Quaintrelle, Portland, Ore.
“I almost always have a bottle of Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé in my fridge, just in case I feel the need for some inexpensive bubbles. It’s very affordable and I think it punches well above its weight in terms of quality. If I were truly celebrating something I would probably go find a true Champagne, but just for whimsical bubbles, I like to always keep their Brut Rosé on hand.” —Jon Macklem, wine director, Dry Creek Kitchen, Healdsburg, Calif.
“Among the hidden gems of the supermarket wine selections, the Trimbach Riesling truly stands out as an underrated treasure. Grown in the sun-drenched vineyards of Alsace, France, this exquisite dry Riesling reflects the legacy of the Trimbach family, who have been synonymous with viticultural excellence for generations. What makes this Riesling my go-to choice for everyday enjoyment is that it’s zesty with an intense minerality.” —Molly Austad, sommelier and wine director, Bludorn, Navy Blue, and Bar Bludorn, Houston